Foot-power mechanism



(No Model.)

A. P. FISHER,

FOOT POWER MECHANISM.

Pafinted Dec. 19, 1882.

INVENTOR 64%%%@ WITNESSES: :J

/ y ldh ATTORNEY S.

UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

ANSON F. FISHER, OF CHICO, CALIFORNIA.

FOOT-POWER MECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of LetterS Patent No. 269,401, dated December 19, 1882. Application filed August 4, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANSON F. FISHER, of Chico, in the county of Butte and State of California, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Foot-Power Mechanism, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to mechanism for converting motion, and is specially applicable to bicycles, sewing-machines, lathes, and similar machines in which foot-power is usually employed; and it consists in a novel arrangement of rack, pinion, and ratchet-wheel, as hereinafter described and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a side elevation ot'a bicycle fitted with my improved mechanism. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a side view of the ratchet device. Fig. 4 is a detail section of the mechanism in larger size.

The shaft to be rotated, (shown at A,) is provided with a ratchet-wheel, a, and also carries apinion, I), which is loose upon the shaft.

Between the ratchet-wheel a and thepinion b is a pawl-carrier, c, which is also loose upon the shaft, and carries the pawl d, which engages the ratchet-wheel.

e is a forked arm, projecting from the pinion b, and engaging, by its forked outer end, a projection on the pawl-carrier, so as to cause a movement of the pawl-carrier with the pin- 10!].

The shaft A also carries a wheel, B, which may be the balance-wheel or, as shown, the forward wheel of a bicycle.

Above the shaft in suitable bearings is a rock-shaft, f, to which is connected a cogged segment, g, engaging the pinion b, and upon the ends of the shaft f are the footpieces or treadles h. In order to get return motion the shaftfis fitted with a spiral spring, i, which, as shown, is connected atone end to the shaft and at the other end to the forked standard of the bicycle.

In the operation of this mechanism the treadles h are moved forward by the feet of the operator, and the segment 9 being carried forward thereby, rotation is given tothe pinion b, and the pawl-carrier and the shaft A is rotated by engagement of the pawl with the ratchet-wheel. The forward movementof the segment is arrested by lugs k k on the segment 7, and the pressure upon the treadles being then relieved, the spring "6 carries the segment back to the first position. The treadles can then be moved forward again, and by this reciprocation a continuous rotary motion is given to the shaft and wheel.

This device is especially applicable to bicycles, as the motion required for the feet is much easier and less fatiguing than when the ordinary crank is used. It may also be used as a substitute for cranks in all machines operated by foot-power.

Having thus described my invention,I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The combination of the shaft A, rachetwheel a, pinion b, provided with the arm 0, the pawl-carrier c, and the segment g, for operation substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the shaft A, provided with ratchet devices, of the pinion b, the cogged segment g, the rock-shaft f, the treadles h, and the springf, substantially as described,

for operation as set forth.

ANSON F. FISHER.

Witnesses:

W. D. HEATH, BENJ. F. TRUE. 

